The US Forest Service indicates there are over 1.45 million acres in timber in our workforce area. Our area, the “wood basket” of Eastern North Carolina, offers an infrastructure for tree production, harvesting, and milling, as well as various forest product. Select companies include:

There are 70+ Companies in Martin and surrounding counties, 6 of which are in paper products, more than 60 in timber/lumber/millwork, with one major pulp facility and one major kraft paperboard mill. The following is a breakdown of our Wood + Forest Products workforce:

Production

General Production

Estimated Employees: 1,070

Estimated Entry Wage: $8.69

Estimated Average Wage: $15.90

Estimated Experienced Wage: $19.51

First-Line Supervisors

Managers of Production

Estimated Employees: 100

Estimated Entry Wage: $14.60

Estimated Average Wage: $26.55

Estimated Experienced Wage: $32.53

Welders/Cutters

Solderers + Brazers

Estimated Employees: 30

Estimated Entry Wage: $10.97

Estimated Average Wage: $13.82

Estimated Experienced Wage: $15.25

Laundry

Dry-Cleaning

Estimated Employees: **

Estimated Entry Wage: $9.54

Estimated Average Wage: $10.14

Estimated Experienced Wage: $10.44

Inspectors, Sorters

Samplers + Weighers

Estimated Employees: **

Estimated Entry Wage: $8.42

Estimated Average Wage: $13.30

Estimated Experienced Wage: $15.73

Transportation

Material Moving

Estimated Employees: 500

Estimated Entry Wage: $7.56

Estimated Average Wage: $12.38

Estimated Experienced Wage: $14.79

First-Line Supervisors

Helpers + Laborers

Estimated Employees: 20

Estimated Entry Wage: $8.65

Estimated Average Wage: $11.71

Estimated Experienced Wage: $13.24

First-Line Supervisors

Transportation

Estimated Employees: 20

Estimated Entry Wage: $18.50

Estimated Average Wage: $33.29

Estimated Experienced Wage: $40.68

Truck Drivers

Heavy and Tractor Trailer

Estimated Employees: 40

Estimated Entry Wage: $12.88

Estimated Average Wage: $14.83

Estimated Experienced Wage: $16.11

Industrial Truck

Tractor Operators

Estimated Employees: 50

Estimated Entry Wage: $10.47

Estimated Average Wage: $16.65

Estimated Experienced Wage: $19.74

Laborers and Freight

Material Movers

Estimated Employees: 90

Estimated Entry Wage: $8.55

Estimated Average Wage: $10.54

Estimated Experienced Wage: $11.53

Packers

Packagers

Estimated Employees: **

Estimated Entry Wage: $7.51

Estimated Average Wage: $7.94

Estimated Experienced Wage: $8.15

The proximity to bulk port facilities at NC Ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, and to the Virginia Port in Norfolk, is convenient for Martin County companies.